Mixes, Mannequins, and Microphones: Discover HSE's Most Unusual Courses
We often view university life through a strict lens: lectures, seminars, deadlines, and exams. At a challenging academic institution like HSE, the focus is naturally on building a formidable career in economics, social sciences, or humanities. But what if your degree could also include mastering a beat drop, designing a flagship store, or killing it with a perfect punchline on a live stage?
Hidden within HSE's extensive additional education programs is a world of creative and professional development that defies the conventional academic script. These are not just hobby clubs, they are serious, structured courses taught by industry legends, designed to equip you with unique, tangible skills. Let's pull back the curtain on three of the most intriguing courses that prove your HSE experience can be as multidimensional as you are.
The soundtrack of your studies: DJ-ing with a legend
Forget about mixing playlists on your laptop. The DJ-ing course at the HSE School of Design is a deep, authentic immersion into club culture, guided by none other than Alexey Chernorot, aka DJ Compass Vrubell — a true legend of the Russian electronic scene with over 30 years of experience.
This is not a casual workshop. The program is a comprehensive journey split into theory and practice. You will delve into the history and styles of electronic music, learn the intricacies of professional Pioneer CDJ-3000 players and DJM-A9 mixers, and master the Rekordbox software. But the real magic lies in the mentorship. Compass Vrubell, whose music has been featured on international labels like Warp Records and in Nina Kravitz mixes, shares tracks from his personal collection. He teaches you how to build a set, improvise for a dancing crowd, and even how to produce podcasts and promote your music projects.
The culmination of the course is every aspiring DJ's dream: you will record your own mix and perform a live set in the state-of-the-art Sound Gallery of the HSE Design School, a space engineered for an authentic club experience.
- Who is it for? “For aspiring musicians, producers, sound artists and everyone who wants to immerse themselves in the world of club music”. No prior musical education is required.
- The Cost: 50,000 RUB (there is an installment plans and a 10% discount for the HSE community).
- Learning format: hybrid (classes are held in-person and online simultaneously). 21 sessions, 3 times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) from 7:10 PM to 10:00 PM
- Address: Izmaylovskoye Shosse, 44, building 2 (HSE School of Design)
The Psychology of shopping: retail design and storefronts
Have you ever walked into a store and felt an immediate desire to buy everything? That feeling is no accident, it's the science of retail design. Taught by Tatiana Sedeleva, an ex-head of design for global brands like Reebok and Tommy Hilfiger, this course reveals how to turn a simple store into a powerful tool for engagement and sales.
This advanced training program moves beyond aesthetics into the psychology of the buyer. You will learn to analyze and audit retail spaces, reorganize layouts for maximum comfort and flow, and use visual merchandising to create "added value" for a brand. The learning is intensely practical: you will first conduct a real-world store analysis, proposing data-backed improvements. For your final project, you will develop a full retail design concept for a brand of your choice, complete with marketing analysis, a floor plan, and a detailed window display design.
- Who is it for? Visual merchandisers, shop managers, brand owners, designers, and “everyone who is interested in the design and decoration of retail spaces”.
- The Cost: 50,000 RUB (there is an installment plans and a 10% discount for HSE students).
- Learning format: the course lasts two months in an online format.
From stage fright to spotlight: stand-up comedy
The fear of public speaking is universal, but what if you could conquer it by making people laugh? The Stand-Up course, led by Elena Novikova — a winner of “Open Microphone” and a resident of the Stand-Up show on TNT — guides you from a blank page to a confident performance.
This course is a complete simulation of a comedian's journey. Over 12 classes, you will learn to generate material, structure jokes, and find your unique comedic voice. The small group format ensures personalized feedback, helping you hone your delivery and stage presence. The program is challenging, involving both live and online sessions, as well as homework to refine your set.
The entire experience builds toward one unforgettable finale: a live performance on a real stage at a Moscow bar or cultural venue. You will step into the spotlight, microphone in hand, and deliver the stand-up number you created to a live audience.
- Who is it for? “Any person who seeks to develop their sense of humor and ability to speak in public”. The course attracts everyone from businesspeople to students.
- The Cost: 50,000 RUB (there is a two-part payment and a 10% discount for HSE students).
- Address: Izmaylovskoye Shosse, 44, building 2 (HSE School of Design)
Illustrating the subconscious: metaphorical cards
What if you could turn abstract feelings and concepts into a tangible, artistic product? The course “Metaphorical Cards: From Concept to Illustration” offers exactly that — a unique blend of psychology and graphic design. Under the guidance of Valeria Chuikova, an experienced illustrator and screenwriter, you will learn the entire process of creating a deck of metaphorical (or association) cards, a tool used in psychology, coaching, and art therapy.
This two-month program is a deep dive into a specialized niche of illustration. You will explore the history and principles of metaphorical cards, learn how to create images that resonate with the subconscious, and master composition and color theory for this specific purpose. The curriculum covers everything from generating a theme and working with text to designing packaging and preparing files for print. The final project is a complete, ready-to-print deck of your own authorial cards, a significant addition to any creative portfolio.
- Who is it for? Illustrators seeking a new genre, as well as psychologists, art therapists, and coaches who want to create their own unique tool for practice.
- Learning format: 14 classes over 2 months, held twice a week at Malaya Pionerskaya St., 12.
- The Cost: 50,000 RUB (with standard installment plans and a 10% discount for the HSE community).
Your Voice, Your Audience: Creative Blogging
In the age of digital content, building your own platform is a superpower. The Creative Blogging course is a comprehensive, four-month online program designed to transform you from a casual poster into a strategic content creator. Guided by Boris Shilin and Ivan Pogorelov, practicing designers and art directors from the studio “Sholoch”, this course teaches you to build and sustain an independent blog or mini-media outlet.
You will delve into content strategy, learning to develop promotion plans that work with social media algorithms. The curriculum is highly practical, covering everything from photo and video production (including AI tools for image generation and editing) to basic montage and long-term planning. Your portfolio by the end will be substantial: a research case study, a series of blog posts, a two-month content plan, video content (a 15-minute video or 5 reels), and even a conducted interview.
- Who is it for? “Everyone who wants to develop their own blog, is interested in creative industries, works in SMM, or wants to attract clients through content”.
- Learning format: a more extensive 4-month online program, comprising 28 classes.
- The Cost: 120,000 RUB (reflecting the longer duration, with a module-based payment plan of 60,000 RUB x 2 and the standard 10% HSE discounts).
These courses — DJ-ing, Retail Design, Stand-Up, Metaphorical Cards or Creative Blogging — are more than just extracurricular activities. They are a testament to HSE's understanding that modern education is about cultivating a diverse skill set. In a world that values unique and hybrid profiles, the ability to understand rhythm, design a compelling space, or communicate with charisma can be the very thing that sets you apart.
So, the next time you're planning your semester, look beyond the required reading list. Your future as a DJ or a stand-up comedian is just one application away. Your degree is what you make it, and at HSE, you can make it uniquely yours.
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